Chrysanthemum plant named &#39;cefreya&#39;

ABSTRACT

A chrysanthemum plant named ‘FREYA’ characterized by its medium sized blooms with coral-salmon ray florets and prolific branching; natural season flower date September 1-5; blooming for a period of 5 weeks.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] ‘FREYA’ is a product of a breeding and selection program for outdoor pot mums (garden mums) which had the objective of creating new chrysanthemum cultivars with a decorative type flower, a natural season flower date around September 1-5; blooming for a period of 5 weeks. The new plant of the present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant ‘FREYA’ is a seedling resulting from the open pollination among groups of chrysanthemum cultivars maintained under the control of the inventor for breeding purposes. The new and distinct cultivar was discovered and selected as one flowering plant by Rob Noodelijk on a cultivated field in Rijsenhout Holland in September 2000. The plant has been asexually reproduced by cuttings in greenhouses at Rijsenhout Holland. The new cultivar has been found to retain its distinctive characteristics through successive propagations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0002] The present invention of a new and distinct variety of chrysanthemum is shown in the accompanying drawings, the color being as nearly true as possible with color photographs of this type.

[0003]FIG. 1 shows a plant of the cultivar in full bloom.

[0004]FIG. 2 shows the various stages of bloom of the new cultivar.

[0005]FIG. 3 shows the petiole and foliage of the new cultivar

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0006] This new variety of chrysanthemum is of the botanical classification Chrysanthemum morifolium. The observations and measurements were gathered from plants grown out door in Rijsenhout, Holland under natural day length and temperature and planted week 22 in 2000 and 2001 . The natural blooming date of this crop was September 1-5 (week 35). The average height of the plants was 27 cms. No growth retardants were used. No tests were done on disease or insect resistance or susceptibility. No tests were done on cold or drought tolerance. This new variety produces medium sized blooms with coral-salmon ray florets and a red center blooming for a period of 5 weeks.

[0007] From the cultivars known to inventor the most similar existing cultivar in comparison to ‘FREYA’ is ‘GRENADINE’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 5338). When ‘GRENADINE’ and ‘FREYA’ are being compared the following differences are noticed: The differences of ‘GRENADINE’ and ‘FREYA’ are (1) Flower form. Both ‘FREYA’ and ‘GRENADINE’ has a coral-salmon decorative flower, however the ray-florets differ in form. (2) Natural flowering date. ‘FREYA’ flowers earlier.

[0008] The following is a description of the plant and characteristics that distinguish ‘FREYA’ as a new and distinct variety. The color designations are taken from the plant itself. Accordingly, any discrepancies between the color designations and the colors depicted in the photographs are due to photographic tolerances. The color chart used in this description is: The Royal Horticultural Society color chart, edition 1995. TABLE 1 Botanical Description of cultivar ‘FREYA’ Bud Size Medium; cross-section 1.0 cm, height 1.5 cm. Outside Color Red 37B Involucral bracts 2 rows, length 7 mm, width 3 mm Involucral bracts among Not present disc-florets Involucral bracts color Green 138B Bloom Type Decorative Height High; 2.5 cm Size Medium Fully Expanded 5.5-6.0 cm Number of blooms per Approx. 4-6 blooms per branch branch Performance on the plant 5 weeks Seeds (if crossed) Produced in small quantities, ovate grey- brown 199A, 1½ mm in length. Fragrance Typical chrysanthemum, slightly Color Center of the flower Immature red 37A Mature red 37C Color of upper surface of Red 37B the ray-florets Color of the lower surface Red 37C of the ray-florets Tonality from Distance A garden mum with coral-salmon flowers and a red disc Color of the upper surface Red 37C of the ray-florets after aging of the plant Ray florets Texture Upper and under side smooth Number 140-150 Cross-section Flat. Longitudinal axis of Reflexing to twisted. majority Length of corolla tube Short. 0.3 cm Ray-floret margin Entire Ray-floret length 2.6-2.8 cm Ray-floret width 0.6 cm Ratio length/width High Shape of tip Rounded Disc florets None Receptacle shape Conical raised Reproductive Organs Stamen Absent. Pollen None Styles Thin Style color Yellow-green 144A Style Length 4 mm. Stigmas Yellow-green 144A Stigma Width 1 mm. Ovaries Enclosed in calyx Plant Form Grown as spray-type pot mum, outdoor mounded and round Growth habit Spreading. Growth rate Moderate Height 27 cm Width 32-34 cm Stem Color Green 139B Stem Strength Strong. Stem Brittleness Present. Stem Anthocyanin Absent. Coloration Length of lateral branch From top to bottom 13-14 cm. Lateral branch color Green 139B Lateral branch, attach- Flexible. ment Branching (average num- Prolific with 7-8 breaks after pinching ber of lateral branches) Peduncle length 6.0 cm Peduncle color Green 139B Natural season blooming September 1-5. date Foliage Color Upper side green 139A Under side green 139C Size Medium; length 5.0 cm, width 4.0 cm Quantity (number per 8-9 lateral branch) Shape Ovate. Texture upper side Glabrous Texture under side Pubescent Venation arrangement Palmate Shape of the margin Serrated Shape of Base of Sinus Round. Between Lateral Lobes Margin of Sinus Between Converging. Lateral Lobes Shape of Base Truncate Apex Cuspidate

[0009] TABLE 2 Differences with the comparison varieties ‘FREYA’ ‘GRENADINE’ Longitudinal axis of ray-florets Reflexing to twisted Incurved Cross section of ray-florets Flat Concave Natural flowering date September 1-5 September 17-25 

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of chrysanthemum plant as described and illustrated. 